Manchester United are facing a deadline to secure the signing of Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller, with his release clause expiring today, Wednesday, July 16th. The Red Devils are seeking to add further depth to their midfield following the arrivals of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa earlier this week.
United initially targeted Atalanta’s Ederson, but shifted focus after prices for elite midfielders soared due to high demand and limited availability. Manchester City’s recent club-record signing of Elliot Anderson for €135 million and pursuit of Ayyoub Bouaddi have further highlighted the inflated market. United have opted for more reasonable deals, spending €58 million on Santos and €41 million on Tielemans.
Stiller, 25, has consistently impressed for Stuttgart, and United’s recruitment department has been tracking him for years, reportedly considering a move in 2025. He possesses a release clause of around €36.5 million to €40 million, representing a potentially bargain price in the current market. However, Stuttgart have the option to remove the clause by paying Stiller a compensation fee of between €3.5 million and €4 million.
According to BILD, Stuttgart have not yet activated this option, potentially anticipating interest from other clubs. However, with no concrete offers forthcoming, the club may reconsider paying the fee unless a suitor emerges before the clause expires. United scouts reportedly watched Stiller extensively last season, but no formal negotiations have taken place.
The Athletic revealed United’s current midfield shortlist includes Alex Scott (Bournemouth), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Carlos Baleba (Brighton), and Sander Berge (Fulham), suggesting the club is prioritizing squad depth over a specific positional need. The signings of Santos and Tielemans indicate a shift away from pursuing a direct replacement for Casemiro. The club may delay signing a truly elite midfielder until next summer when market conditions are expected to improve.
If United fail to trigger Stiller’s release clause, Stuttgart will be in a stronger negotiating position, potentially increasing the transfer fee and diminishing the opportunity for a bargain deal. The player’s contract with Stuttgart is valid until 2028, giving the Bundesliga club further leverage.
